The Canary Islands Marine Demarcation, with 21.7% of its area under some form of legally binding protection, faces a significant challenge. Of this percentage, only 11% has an active management system in place, implementing concrete measures against threats such as overfishing, pollution, or intense marine traffic. The situation is even more critical for areas with the highest level of protection, from the seabed to the surface, which account for less than 1% of the total.
These findings, extracted from the MPAs Canary Islands project, underscore that, although the marine protection network has expanded in recent years, significant shortcomings persist in the management, governance, and effective custody of these spaces. Octavio Llinás, the project coordinator, attributes this situation to the complexity and slowness of the procedures required to declare and manage a marine protected area, rather than a lack of institutional will.
“"It is always possible to go faster, but declaring and managing a marine protected area involves a complex and tedious process."
The process for establishing a protected zone includes initial studies, a proposal from the State to the European Union (EU), identification of threats and search for solutions, followed by a period of public information. Spain has committed to protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030, with 10% of that surface designated for strictly protected areas, such as the La Isleta zone, the coast of San Juan de La Rambla, the marine strip of Fuencaliente, or the seagrass beds of Antequera.
According to experts, the Canary Islands play a crucial role in helping Spain achieve its goals, thanks to the vast extent and richness of its marine values. The archipelago's maritime demarcation, covering nearly 500,000 square kilometers (half of Spain's total), is considered a biodiversity “hot spot.” Llinás highlights that the project is funded by American philanthropic funds, demonstrating international recognition of the value of this area.
To meet international commitments and strengthen ocean resilience against climate change, it is considered essential for the Canary Islands to move beyond theoretical protection. The focus must be on improving the management of already declared areas and increasing the overall effectiveness of the network. Priorities proposed by the expert committee include strengthening governance and funding, updating obsolete management plans, increasing strict protection, improving regional ecological connectivity, and fostering cooperation with regions such as the Azores, Madeira, Cape Verde, Morocco, and Mauritania.
“"Their true value depends on effective management, continuous monitoring, and periodic evaluation of measures, to ensure they generate real conservation results and can be improved over time."
Eva Meyers, study leader and researcher at the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, emphasizes that expanding the protected area alone is not enough. Currently, there are various proposals for new marine protected areas, such as the Mar de Las Calmas National Marine Park in El Hierro and the new Guguy National Park in Gran Canaria.
